Hagakure: The Book of the Samauri (Paperback)

~ (Author), William Scott Wilson (Translator) "Although it stands to reason that a samurai should be mindful of the Way of Samurai, it would seem that we are all negligent..." (more)
Key Phrases: martial valor, young samurai, Way of the Samurai, Lord Naoshige, Lord Katsushige (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A Classic of Japanese thought….Poetic, robust…a feast of aphorisms and martial anecdotes." -- New York Review of Books

"A fascinating glimpse into another place and time." -- Library Journal

"A guidebook and inspiration for ... anyone interested in achieving a courageous and transcendent understanding of life." -- East West Journal

"HAGAKURE became a kind of magical discovery for me, and ‘hidden under its leaves’ were some important gifts." -- Jim Jarmusch

"The most influential of all samurai treatises ever written. " -- Prof. Ivan Morris

"Yamamoto brought together three temperaments: loyalty to his master, a literary sensibility, and the enlightenment of Zen." -- Choice --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"A Classic of Japanese thought....Poetic, robust...a feast of aphorisms and martial anecdotes." -The New York Review of Books
"HAGAKURE became a kind of magical discovery for me, and 'hidden under its leaves' were some important gifts." -Jim Jarmusch
"A fascinating glimpse into another place and time." -Library Journal
"Yamamoto brought together three temperaments: loyalty to his master, a literary sensibility, and the enlightenment of Zen." -Choice
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (March 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770011067
• ISBN-13: 978-4770011060
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #101,672 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This item is part of The Way of the Warrior Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

174 of 183 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Perspective on Samurai Bravery and Etiquette, August 27, 2000

By	ADM (New York City) - See all my reviews

This book features sayings and anecdotes from an aging Samurai who died around 1700.

It is a quick and entertaining read, and offers great perspective both on the individual who wrote it, and on the general theory of being a samurai.

There is an obvious sense of loss in many of the passages which comment on how things in contemporary society (of the 1700s) are so different from years past. This book, intentionally or not, captures the spirit of those older days, and serves both as a manual for younger samurai, and as a historical document for people who are interested in "The Way of the Samurai" today.

In his excellent introduction, the translator makes the very relevant point that this book is not a rigorous philosophical treatise, at least not in the way that Western scholars would define it. Instead, it is a collection of stories and phrases about a certain way of living. It doesn't hold up to scientific cross-examination (the author contradicts himself frequently), but it shouldn't have to. Yamamoto gives the impression that if faced with a philosophical attack on his "way", he would shrug his shoulders and say, "Yes, but that doesn't change a thing." In other words, his examples and aphorisms speak for themselves, and are not meant to either exclude other points of view or force others into conformity. Yamamoto even states that the Way he advocates is specific to his region of Japan -- samurai of neighboring regions are free to develop their own Ways.

The passages in the book usually focus on one of two topics: bravery, or etiquette. Yamamoto offers a lot of advice on charging into battle, seeking revenge, executing others, etc. The main thrust of most of it is: the Samurai does not spend a lot of time thinking about killing his enemy. He just rushes in and gets it over with. On matters of etiquette, Yamamoto discusses the proper way to hold a Tea Ceremony, how to cover up a yawn, how to pay attention to people you are talking to, and so on. One of the charming aspects of this book is that right after discussing the swiftest way to cut off someone's head, he'll discuss how to make yourself look nice even if you have a hangover. This could be a result of the editing, but it still makes for entertaining reading.

The other theme that permeates almost every paragraph of the book is loyalty to one's master. Yamamoto never tires of discussing the extremes that a samurai should go to so that he may honor his master and show his loyalty. He gives the example of a samurai who was being beaten by his master: during the course of the beating, the master dropped his staff down a hill, so the samurai immediately ran down to retrieve it, and return the staff to his master so he could continue to be beaten. Of course, the ultimate act of loyalty to one's master is to kill oneself after his death. Yamamoto spends a great deal of time discussing various aspects of this tradition, and regrets that his own master forbade him to commit suicide in such a way.

The book reads very quickly (it took me about 4 hours), in part because it is organized into brief paragraphs and anecdotes (much like a book of sayings), and in part because the underlying material is almost inherently fascinating. It gives a very complete picture of the state of mind of an aging samurai, and depicts the world of the samurai as it existed in the 17th century.

The translation flows very well, though I cannot attest to its accuracy, and the translator includes a somewhat useful glossary in the back of the book, as well as the introduction which I mentioned. I should also mention, for the curious, that this is the translation that Jim Jarmusch used as the source of his aphorisms in the recent film "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai."

206 of 223 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Samurai philosophy from the profound to the absurd, December 5, 1997

By	LANCE R LINDLEY "hagakure" (Yokosuka, Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"...if you are slain in battle, you should be resolved to have your corpse facing the enemy."
Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Hagakure -- which can be translated as either "hidden leaves" or "hidden by leaves" -- was published on September 10, 1716. It is a compilation of the philosphies of Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a close retainer of Nabeshima Mitsushige, the third ruler of what is now Saga Prefecture.

The book can be very dry, especially if a person is not especially interested in Japanese history or Samurai thought. But if one does enjoy those subjects, Hagakure is interesting not so much for all of its philosophies, which run from the profound to the mundane to the absurd, but rather for the historical context in which it was written. By the time Mitsushige passed away in May 1700, Japan had been at peace for almost exactly 100 years. This left the samurai with the same problem facing our modern military: how do you remain a proud, disciplined warrior in times of extended peace?

Reading carefully for the feeling of the passages rather than just the facts, one gets a sense for how the fanatical, death-driven, honor-obsessed samurai of feudal Japan must have felt as they watched their profession stagnate. Tsunetomo himself was forbidden to commit junshi, a retainer's ritual suicide in order to follow his master into death, by the command of the Tokugawa Shogunate. No doubt, this added to his misery and frustration.

So, in a way, Hagakure is not just "The Book of the Samurai," but also a last bit of verbal bravado from a dying breed. It is particularly ironic if you read the version adapted by one of Japan's most celebrated authors, Mishima Yukio, who commited ritual suicide samurai-style (called hara-kiri or more often seppuku) in the office of Japan Self Defense Force General Mashita for numerous reasons including Mishima's obsession with "bushido," the way of the warrior, which is embodied within "Hagakure.".

The philosophy of Hagakure is typical of the unique blend of Zen and Confucianism that was prevalent during Edo Era (1600-1868) Japan. This particular social system was promulgated by the Tokugawa Shogunate because it added to the focus of Zen the Confucian emphasis on ancestor worship, which strengthened the status quo and the concept of feudal class systems.

Although Japan is becoming increasingly Westernized in recent times, the Tokugawa Shogunate's 268-year rule still has a strong subconscious impact on Japanese behaviour. So, to better understand the Japanese, it is useful to understand their socio-political history, though it is certainly true that most Japanese (esp. those under 30) have never heard of "Hagakure" or Yamamoto Tsunetomo.

In addition to the historical character sketch it paints of samurai during the Edo Era, there are some gems of Eastern philosophy to be mined from the book, including the idea that one must always focus on every moment of his life, so that he may not be found negligent. For as Yamamoto writes in Hagakure, "The end is important in all things." By this he means that if everything else goes well, the one bad thing that happens at the end of the day, so to speak, is what people will remember when they think about you.

For Yamamoto, however, "Hagakure" is the legacy he is remembered by.

47 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A historical, anecdotal glimpse into the Bushido mind., February 11, 1997

By A Customer

Whether you find HAGAKURE of interest depends on your approach to the book. Although this is not a book of sword technique, it is much like a traditional sword master, teaching only what the student is open enough to know, and teaching on many levels. On one level, it is a book of eyewitness accounts and stories from the decline of the Samurai era. Tsunetomo has a gift for storytelling, and for slipping in little details that might be of use to the aspiring Bushi. For example, do you know the quickest, easiest way to remove a dead enemies' face from his skull? He also gossips in an entertaining way about the lives of various local notables. It is as if you are having dinner with a slighly cynical, retired Samurai, the saki is passed around, and he begins talking freely. On another level the book adresses the questions of loyalty, honor, and the meaning of life. It celebrates virtue and valor, while avoiding the sugarcoating that such subjects get in the west. Anyone who faces dangers and obstacles in their day to day walk will find this little book strangely supportive. In this age where loyalty has a price, and commitment is a meaningless word, the savage beauty and strange purity of the Bushi mind, as revealed by Tsunetomo, can strengthen the heart, and recharge the mind. IF YOU LIKE HAGAKURE, you should read: THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS, Miamoto Mushashi THE UNFETTERED MIND, Takuan Soho ACTS OF WORSHIP, Yukio Mishima